Headlight-steering mechanism.



A. KREITZER & A. GOOD.

HEADLIGHT STEERING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION map DEC. 30, 1915.

LWUJY'M. Patented July 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVEN'T' 5 Mai M AT Tomzzv A. KREITZER 61 A. GOOD.

HEADLIGHT STEERING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION man 05c. 30. 1915.

1,1 9&771. 1 Patented July 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

"m I INVENTOR I roRNEY iiruaru sen an ADOLPH KREITZER AND ALBERT GQOD, OF.WHEELI1\TG, WEST VIRGINIA.

HEADLIGHT-STEERING MECHANISM.

Application filed December 30, 1915.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, AnoLPH Knniaznn, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, and a resident of Wheeling, in the county of Ohio and State of West Virginia, and ALBERT G001), a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city, county, and State aforesaid, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Headlight-Steering Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to headlight steering apparatus for automobiles, and it has for its primary object to provide mechanism whereby the headlights are caused to turn with the front wheels of the vehicle when rounding curves and the like, for illuminating the roadway.

A' further object is to provide a device of the character mentioned the mechanism of which can not become distorted or disarranged by the relative movement occurring between the vehicle frame upon which the headlight is carried and the steering parts carried by the vehicle aXle.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the features of construction, arrangement of parts, and combinations of elements which will hereinafter be fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention applied; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2; Fig. 1 is a section on the line 1-4, Fig. 8; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the mount ing of the lamp bracket opposite that illustrated in Figs. 3' and 1; Fig. 6 is a. side elevation of the same; and-Fig. 7 is a front face view illustrating the connection between my invention and a steering knuckle.

Referring to said drawings, in which like designating characters distinguish like parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates a lamp bracket of a more or less common yoke-shaped form, the same being designed for supporting a lamp 2 between the forks thereof and having a vertical stem 3 rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing 4 mounted upon the side member 5 of the vehicle f ame. Said stem has fixed collars, as 6, thereon whereby vertical movement of the stem with respect to the bearing 4 is prevented.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1216.

Seria1 No. 69,366.

Mounted rigidly upon the usual spring 7 of the vehicle in any suitable manner, as by means of the shackles S, is a vertically disposed tubular member or casing 9 having plugs 10 and 11 threaded within its opposite ends, said plugs having their inner ends socketed. A sleeve 12 has its opposite ends received within and is rotatable in the sockets of said plugs and is maintained by the latter in a position concentric with respect to the casing 9; The lower end of said stem 3 is projected centrally through the upper plug 10 and is received within the sleeve 12. A key 13 directed transversely through said stem adjacent to the end of the latter has one end movably disposed within a vertical slot 14 provided in said sleeve 12, said key connecting said stem and said sleeve in such manner that free vertical movement of said parts with respect to each other is permitted, while independent rotary movement of said parts is effectually prevented.

Disposed in loosely embracing relation to the sleeve 12 adjacent to the-upper end thereof is a ring 15 insertible within the casing 9 through a semi-circular slot 16 provided in said casing. Said ring has an integral stem 17 formed thereon which projects outward through said slot 16. Threaded through said stem 17' and ring 15 in a radial direction is an end of a bolt 18 which is adapted to be adjusted to impinge upon said sleeve 12 so that horizontal swinging movement imparted to said bolt will impart a corresponding rotary movement to said sleeve. The outer end of said bolt is also threaded in the same direction as the inner end thereof and is adjustably received within the end of a knuckle member 19 to which is pivotally connected an end of a rod 20 which has its opposite end pivotally connected to the horizontal laterally directed arm 21 of an upright bracket 21 the lower end of which is ri idly mounted upon the face of a steering knuckle 22 so that it will turn therewith. A shouldered portion 18 is provided intermediate the ends of the bolt 18 to facilitate the application of a wrench thereto for adjusting purposes. A. jam nut 23 is provided for seating against the end of the knuckle member 19 for maintaining the adjustment of the bolt with respect to said member.

From the foregoing it will be understood that lateral or turning movement imparted bolt 18 and intermediate rod in the usual manner to the steering knuckle 22 will be communicated through the intermediate parts to the sleeve 12, the arm 21, being so disposed relatively that movement of one communicates a corresponding movement to the other. The rotary movement thus imparted to the sleeve 12 will be imparted, as hereinbefore described, to the lamp bracket, causing the lamp to turn a distance substantially corresponding to that through which said steering knuckle is turned. This distance of turning movement of the lamp may be regulated somewhat by adjusting the reach of the knuckle member 19 and the length of the rod 20.

'Since thestem 3 and sleeve 12 are rela -'t1vely movable in a vertical direction, it is apparent that yielding movement of the 20 spring 7 with respect to the frame member 5 is permitted without subjecting the parts to the strains which would otherwise be imposed upon them.

Connected to the opposite forks of the lamp brackets 1 and l are the ends of an areuate yoke 24, said yokes being connected by a transversely disposed rod 25 having its ends pivotally connected to the rearmost portions thereof. The stem 3 of the bracket located opposite that which is rendered movable in the manner hereinbefore described is rotatably mounted in a bearing 4 carried 7 by the adjacent side member 5 of the frame.

Due to the fact that rotary motion imparted to the one lamp is communicated to the other through the rod 25 connecting the yokes 241, it is of course unnecessary to project the stem 3 below the bearing in the manner of the stem 3.

For covering the slot 16 in the casing 9 so as to prevent access of dust, dirt and the like, a thin flexible metal open ring 26 is provided, the same being adapted to be sprung into encircling relation tothe casing 9. Said ring has an opening therein at a point located substantially diametrically opposite its ends, said opening having the stem 17 projected outward therethrough, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4:.

7 What is claimed is 1 1. Headlight steering mechanism com prising, in combination .with the frame,

spring and steering mechanism of a motor vehicle, a bearing mounted on said frame, a lamp-supporting bracket having a stem pivoted in said bearing and extending downward therefrom, a tubular casing mounted on said spring, a sleeve disposed within said casing and having rotary movement with respect to the latter, said sleeve having a vertical slot therein, said stem being received within and being vertically movable with respect to said sleeve, means carried by said stem and operating in said slot whereby independent rotary movement of said sleeve with respect to said stem is prevented, said casing having a horizontal slot therein, a member rigidly associated with said sleeve and having a portion projected outward through and operable in said horizontal slot, and means interposed between the vehicle steering mechanism and said member whereby turning motion imparted to the former is communicated to the latter.

2. Headlight steering mechanism, comprising, in con'ibination with the frame, spring and steering mechanism of a motor vehicle, a bearing mounted on the frame, a lamp-supporting bracket having a stem pivoted in said bearing and extending downward therefrom, a tubular casing mounted on said spring, a sleeve disposed vertically within said casing and having the lower end of said stem received therein, means interposed between said stem and said sleeve whereby relative rotary movement of said parts is prevented, said casing having a horizontal slot therein extending throughout substantially half of its circumference, means extending through said slot and rigidly connected to said sleeve, a band fastened to said means and encircling said casing, and means connecting the last-mentioned means with said steering mechanism whereby said sleeve is turned with said mechanism.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

ADOLPH KREITZER. ALBERT GOOD.

lVitnesses W. F. KEEPER, E. DUNLAP.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

